Speaker system utilizing input from a transducer in proximity to a separate speaker

Abstract

A speaker system utilizes input from a transducer that receives an acoustical signal produced by a speaker that is separate from the speaker system. The acoustical signal is amplified and drives a speaker of the speaker system. The speaker system is thereby provided with the necessary electrical audio signal without the speaker system being wired into any existing sound system wiring. In automobiles, the transducer is in proximity to a speaker wired into the automobile's audio system, and the transducer obtains the acoustical signal to produce the electrical audio signal used by the speaker of the speaker system so that no access to high or low level electrical audio signals of the audio system of the automobile is necessary. Additionally, the speaker system may employ a power socket plug that is electrically coupled to the power input of the amplifier and that may be plugged into a power socket such as those typical of most vehicles to provide electrical power to the amplifier of the speaker system.

1. A system, comprising:
 a transducer in proximity to a first speaker mounted to a surface such that the transducer produces a second electrical signal in response to receiving a first acoustical signal corresponding to a first electrical signal from the first speaker; 
 an amplifier that amplifies the second electrical signal to produce a third electrical signal; 
 a second speaker that receives the third electrical signal and that produces a second acoustical signal; and 
 an acoustical collector surrounding the transducer such that the first acoustical signal is substantially captured within the acoustical collector and directed to the transducer and such that the transducer is isolated from ambient acoustical signals; 
 wherein the acoustical collector comprises an opening and an attachment mechanism disposed on a surface of the acoustical collector at the opening; and wherein the attachment mechanism affixes the acoustic collector to said surface upon which said first speaker is mounted. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first speaker is a full-range driver and wherein the second speaker is a subwoofer. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure and wherein the second speaker is mounted to the enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the enclosure includes a port. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer is an electret condenser. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the amplifier includes a power input, the speaker system further comprising:
 a vehicle power socket plug electrically connected to the power input. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the vehicle power socket plug is inserted into a vehicle power socket and wherein electrical power is received into the vehicle power socket plug from the vehicle power socket and is received into the power input from the vehicle power socket plug. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the amplifier comprises:
 a preamplifier that receives and amplifies the second electrical signal to produce an intermediate electrical signal; and 
 a power amplifier that receives and amplifies the intermediate electrical signal to produce the third electrical signal. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of generating sound, comprising:
 placing a transducer in proximity to a first speaker mounted to a surface; 
 generating a first acoustical signal at the first speaker in response to a first electrical signal; 
 receiving the first acoustical signal at the transducer to produce a second electrical signal; 
 amplifying the second electrical signal to produce a third electrical signal; 
 receiving the third electrical signal at a second speaker to produce a second acoustical signal; and 
 enclosing the transducer relative to the first speaker via an acoustical collector such that the acoustical collector isolates the transducer from ambient acoustical signals; 
 wherein the acoustical collector comprises an opening and an attachment mechanism disposed on a surface of the acoustical collector at the opening; and wherein the attachment mechanism affixes the acoustic collector to said surface upon which said first speaker is mounted. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second speaker is a subwoofer and wherein amplifying the second electrical signal to produce the third electrical signal further comprises applying a low pass filter to attenuate frequencies above a cutoff within the third electrical signal. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing an enclosure for the subwoofer. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein amplifying the second electrical signal comprises applying pre-amplification to produce an intermediate electrical signal and then applying power amplification to the intermediate electrical signal to produce the third electrical signal. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving electrical power for amplifying the second electrical signal through a vehicle power socket plug inserted into a vehicle power socket. 
 
     
     
       14. A system, comprising:
 a transducer in proximity to a first speaker mounted to a surface, wherein the first speaker produces a first acoustical signal from a first electrical signal and wherein the transducer produces a second electrical signal in response to receiving the first acoustical signal; 
 an acoustical collector surrounding the transducer such that the first acoustical signal is substantially captured within the acoustical collector and directed to the transducer and such that the acoustical collector isolates the transducer from ambient acoustical signals, wherein the acoustical collector comprises an opening and an attachment mechanism disposed on a surface of the acoustical collector at the opening and wherein the attachment mechanism affixes the acoustic collector to said surface upon which said first speaker is mounted; 
 a preamplifier that is electrically connected to the transducer and that amplifies the second electrical signal to produce an intermediate electrical signal for outputting to a power amplifier; and 
 a vehicle power socket plug that receives electrical power and provides the electrical power to a power input of the power amplifier. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a switch within the vehicle power socket plug to switch on power from the vehicle power socket plug to the power input. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the power amplifier includes a remote activation input, the speaker system further comprising a switch between the vehicle power socket plug and the remote activation input to switch on power to the remote activation input independently of switching on power to the power input. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the power amplifier that is electrically connected to the preamplifier and that amplifies the intermediate electrical signal to produce a third electrical signal, the power amplifier including the power input; 
 a subwoofer that receives the third electrical signal and produces a second acoustical signal; and 
 an enclosure to which the subwoofer is mounted.